Shawshank Redemption
Oft in the midst of noise and haste, one tends to forget that there is a battle going on, a quiet, stealthy battle waged against that which cannot speak in its own defence – Nature. Irreplaceable ecosystems are being lost, too many species are going extinct to keep a count, and others are at the brink of extinction… floods and droughts have become permanent ‘seasons’ across the globe. And in this face of aridity and hopelessness, we have Earth Heroes who give silent Nature a voice, while risking their lives everyday for us. That is what makes them out of the ordinary. They give us hope for a better tomorrow. For our children, and our children’s children… For this, we honour them.
Earth Heroes Awards for the year 2000
J.C. Daniel
The recepient of Sanctuary's Millenium Lifetime Service Award, naturalist and large-mammal J.C. Daniel has been part of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) for decades. When he retired as its director in 1991, he was promptly elected an Honorary Member. J.C. Daniel has greatly influenced the direction of scientific field biology in India through the BNHS.
C. Achalender Reddy
The Director (Wildlife), Goa Forest Department, C.Achalender Reddy initiated ‘Project Turtle’ in Morjim Village, Goa. Reddy has now started a Turtle Study Centre, rendered his service at several biodiversity hotspots and ensured that the Forest Department of Goa is a member of ‘Operation Kacchappa’. With all this he has ignited the spirit of conservation among several individuals.
G.V.Reddy
Courageous, committed, honest and totally dedicated, he has in three years been directly responsible for the recovery of Ranthambhore and its tigers. His efforts have gone a long way in keeping a check on poaching as well as illegal grazing.
Bivash Pandav
After working with the Wildlife Institute of India, Bivash Pandav has established a long-term research and the monitoring of sea turtles along the coast of Orissa. His efforts have gone a long way in studying inter-rookery behaviour, nesting and breeding behaviour and devised a method to count them. He also initiated Operation Kacchappa and his efforts have been recognized all over the world.
Divakar Sharma
An Ayurvedic traditional herbal medicine practitioner by profession, Divakar Sharma has spent much of the last 20 years of his life fighting the illegal wildlife trade. He is currently the Honorary Wildlife Warden of Haridwar and Dehradun He exudes positivism even in the face of given tragedy that green warriors are forced to confront on an everyday basis.
Subrata Pal Chowdhury
Expert in the immobilization and transport of wild animals, Subrata Pal Chowdhury assists the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department of West Bengal. He has also been responsible for numerous seizures of illegal wildlife products and has been a recipient of the ‘Best Wildlife Worker’ Award in West Bengal. He has also imparted professional training in tranquillising and treating of animals.